Bradley Cooper confirms West End debut

Published 23 January 2015

Bradley Cooper will make his West End debut in The Elephant Man when the Broadway production transfers to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a strictly limited season in May.

The Oscar nominated American Sniper actor, who is currently starring in the play at New York’s Booth Theatre, will bring his portrayal of Joseph Merrick, the man who became a star of the traveling freak show circuit during the 19th century, to the venue from 19 May to 8 August.

Earlier this month, Cooper was nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in American biographical war drama American Sniper, his third Best Actor nod from the Academy Awards following previous nominations for Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.

Based on a true story, The Elephant Man follows the story of Merrick as he is taken under the care of Dr Treves, who is astonished by the man’s brilliant intelligence, unshakeable faith and resounding desire for love and understanding. When he introduces Merrick to actress Mrs Kendal, a complex friendship blossoms between the three of them, but Treves and Kendal struggle to protect Merrick from a world of questionable intentions.

Cooper’s current Broadway co-stars Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola will join him on his journey across the pond to star in the West End transfer. Emmy Award-winning actress Clarkson, whose film credits include The Station Agent, The Green Mile and Pieces Of April, plays Mrs Kendal alongside Cooper’s American Hustle co-star Nivola, whose other screen credits include Face/Off, as Dr Treves.

Written by Bernard Pomerance and directed by Scott Ellis, The Elephant Man will open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket following the West End transfer of Harvey starring James Dreyfus and Maureen Lipman. Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy begins its run at the venue on 17 March following the current run of the Chichester Festival Theatre hit Taken At Midnight.